Automatic programming device



1959 v. M. ANDREWS ETAL 2,910,164

AUTOMATIC PROGRAMMING DEVICE Filed Dec. 50, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 l I l IN V EN TORS o VICTOR M. ANDREWS, GEORG M. BERKIN ATTORNEY Oct. 27, 1959 v. M. ANDREWS ETAL 2,910,164

AUTOMATIC PROGRAMMING DEVICE Filed Dec. 30, 1954 a Sheets-Sheet 2- \/68 mmvmxs, '1 VICTOR M. ANDREWS,

GEORGE M. BERKIN B hjgtj fwml Plow 1959 v. M. ANDREWS EI'AL 2,910,164

AUTOMATIC PROGRAMMING DEVICE Filed Dec. 30, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS, VICTOR M. ANDREWS,

GEOR gm. BERKIN ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,910,164 AUTOMATIC PROGRAMMING DEVICE:

Victor M. Andrews, Pine Plains, and George M. Bet-kin, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., assignors to International Business Machines Corporation, New" York, N.Y., a corporation of New York i Application December 30, 19s4,-semiNe,478,615 1 Claim. (CI.-197-.-133) This invention relates to typewriters and more particnlarly to an automatic programming deviceforadyancing a form with the typewriter platen sequentially to preselected lines for printing. I

In many typing installations, forms of uniform length attached end to end are employed and work is to be typed on identical pre-selected lines of each of those forms. In such a situation, it is obviously advantageous to be able to automatically position a format the pie-selected line thereby avoiding the necessityof the operator manually positioning the preselected line for typing. Accordingly, it is a first object of this invention to provide animproved automatic programming device operable with a business machine carriage for advancing a form to a preselected line.

Since the device would be used with continuous Web forms, it 'is a still further object of this invention to provide an automatic programming device operable after a starting point has been reached to position selected lines of a first form at printing. position, and then operable to advance corresponding'lines of succeeding forms'to'printing position, as each form is completed; I I

It is a still furthenobject' of this invention to provide an automatic programming device that may beremotely controlled to position'pre-selected lines 'of'a 'form in printing position.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an improved more efficient and less expensive automatic programming device for advancing pre-selectedlines of a form to printing position. I

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claimand illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which discloseby way of eX- ample, the principle of the'invent ion' and the best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle;

In the drawings: I I

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the components'of the iniproved automatic programming device.

Fig. 2 -is a rear elevationof the components shown-in l. l

Fig. 3 is an end-elevation partly in section taken from the plane 33 in the direction of the arrows of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation partly in section taken from of thearrows in Fig. 3;'

the plane 44 in the direction while Fig. 5 is a schematic wiring diagram.

Briefly, this invention relates to animproved automatic programming device, operable under the control of a typewriter power driving means to advance a formito'preselected lines. An electrically operated clutch is interpositioned between the power driving means of a typewriter and the platen in such a manner that the platen will advance a form whenever the electric clutch is energized. A circuit is provided whereby the energization of the clutch by one switch means will be interrupted by a selected lines at printing positions. I

With reference to the drawings, and particularly to second switching means'responsive'to the positioning of Fatented Oct. 27, 1959 Figs. land 2, a typewriter 2jis shown having amo'tor or other power'driving means4, a carriage 6 slidable in the usual carriage rai-lsS, 10 transversely of the machine, and aplaten 12 for holding a work sheet in the conventional fashioni I I The automatic programming device comprises a frame 14 secured to the'rearof the typewriter 2, a gear and pulley mechanism 16 interconnecting the motor 4 with the pIaten lZand a switch operating mechanism 18 operable to control selectively the driving relationship between motor 4 and the pulley mechanism 16.

Aprogram driving gear or'pulley 20 is shown connected by a belt or otherfsuitable driving mechanism 22 to the shaft of the motor4 for continuous rotation whenever'the motor is energized. Pulley 20 is mountedon a shaft :24 rotatably secured in the program frame 14 and carries a pinion 26. The latter is meshed with an idler 28 carried by a stub'shaft'30 supported by the frame 14, and idler28, in turn, is engaged with a clutch gear 32 freely supported for rotation about a clutch shaft 36 mounted in frame 14 A pinion 38 ismountedon clutch shaft 36 for rotation therewith; I I

A clutch"40is provided having one toothed portion '42 secured to and rotatable with the clutch gear 32 and the second portion 44 secured to and rotatable with the clutch shaft 36. The toothed portion 44 is axially slidable on the clutch shaft 36 by splines orother securing devices so I that movement tothele'ft, as viewed in- Fig'. 2, willengage the clutch portions 42 and to drive the clutch shaft 36 in response'to rotationof "the clutch gear 32. II I In order to control the inter-engagement of the toothed portions 42, 44 of theclutch 40, an electromagnetl46 having a coil 48 is mounted on the frame 14 to attract an armature 50 of a'clutchshifting lever 52 which is pivotally supported on the frame 14 b'y a bolt or other suitable de.-' vice 54.' The clutch shifting 'leveri52 is biased by the spring 56 into the right hand liniit shown in Fig. 2, wherein the toothedportions 42am 44 are disengaged. Upon energization of the coil 48of the electromagnet 46 the armature 50 will be attractedto rock the'shift leve rl 52 counterclockwise about its'supporting stud 54 in opposition to the spring 56 so as to engagethetoothedportions 42 'and 44 of clutch 40 therebydriving the clutch shaft 36 and hence'the pinion 38 inrespbnse1to the'rotation of the frame 14'. Theinterrnediate shaft 64 ca rr ies' at its' riglit hand end, as viewedin'Fig'L a be'adchain' sprocket "66;

the purpose of whichiwill be hereinafter described, arid at its left hand-end a platen drive gear 68' 'whic h isfinterconnected through an idler70 carried byth e stub shaft 72 supported by the"r rarne' 14 to a spline gear; which is supported,as shown in Fig.4, in the frame14 so that'the cross shaft '76can slide'axially throughit. More specific'ally, the gear'74 (Fig. 4)hasa'hi1b'78," which is rotatably supported by hearing '80'carried by theframe 14. A pair of face p1ates'82, 84 havin'g'diam'eters' greater than that of the bearing areinterconnected bya'plu rality of bolts'86 so-as'tocontrol end'movement'of'th'e' gear 74. T he faceplate 84 serves a dual function in'that it acts as a race to position ball bearings88 which are located in diagonally opposite grooves 90, 92 provided in the hubof the gear 74 in alignment with axialsplines 94,

96, respectively, carried by the cross shaft 76. With this structure, the cross shaft'76 is easily slidable axiallyrela tive to gear 74, and the ball bearings 88 perfofrrn' afsec ondaryfunction of providing a drivingrelationshipbe I tween gear 74 and the cross shaft 76. Assuming that the 52 has been rocked to its counterclockwise limit to interengage theportions' 42, 44 of 'the clutch 40. Furthermore, with the constructionof gear 74 and shaft 76 which has its ends supported in the carriage frame, the typewriter carriage is movable laterally in rails 8 and 10 whereupon irrespective of the position of the carriage relative to the typewriter printing point a driving relationship will exist between the gear 74 and the cross shaft 76.

The cross shaft 76 is provided at one ,end with the belt drive capstan 79 which is rotatable with the shaft 76. A belt 81 is employed to interconnect the belt drive capstan 79 and a platen drive pulley 83. A pressure pulley 85 is positioned along one side of the belt 81 to act as a tightener to insure driving relationship between the belt drive capstan 79 and the platen pulley 83.

Through the use of the belt structure, then when the belt drive capstan 79 is rotated counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 1, the platen pulley 83 will be rotated counterclockwise so as to advance the form line by line, into printing position.

In order to regulate the stopping position of the platen 12 so that a pro-selected line will be in printing position, an electrical switching device is provided which interrupts the circuit to the magnet 48 as the predetermined line on platen 12 reaches printing position. This circuit, which will be later described, has a switch arm 87 (Fig. 2) which is pivotally supported about a pin 89 whereby it can be rocked in response to large beads 91a of a bead chain 93 passing under the outer end 95 of the switch arm 87. The opposite end of the switch arm 87 lies in contactwith one of a pair of spring contact arms 98, 100 which are normally closed to establish electrical contact, but which are separated when the switch arm 87 is rocked about its pivot 89 in response to a large bead 91a passing under the outer end 95.. More specifically, the large bead will rock the switch arm 87 to depress the arm,100 thereby opening the circuit across the contacts on the arms 98, 100. This bead operated switch is a well known device (for example, see U.S, Patent 2,591,335)

for engaging a bead chain element which comprises a plurality of largerbeads 91aand; smaller ones 91. So long as one of the small beads 91 rides under the outer end 95 ofthe switch arm 37, there willibe no change in electrical circuitry across the contact arms 98, 100, but

as soon as a large ball 91a gets under the outer end 95 of the arm 87, the contacts 98 and 100 will be separated to interrupt the circuit to the coil 48. i

It will be noted that the bead chain sprocket 66. is driven only-when the intermediateshaft 64 is driven, which in turn,-is driven onlywhen the'clutch 40 has been engaged 1 by rocking the shift arm 52. Since there is a drive relationship between the intermediate shaft 64 and the platen pulley 83,it' is obvious that there is a direct ratio of rotation betweenthe chain sprocket 66 and the platen 12.

This direct'relationship is employed to interrupt the corresponding change would have to be made in the length of the bead chain.

On the assumption that the bead chain is of a length equal to that of the form which is passed across the platen, then the large head can be placed on the chain for every printing line on the form where preselected data such as a total is to be typed. whereupon, as these pre-selected lines on the printing form reach the printing position of a platen, a corresponding large bead will be under the switch arm 87 thereby interrupting the circuit to the magnet 48 to interrupt the driving relationship between the motor 4 and the platen 12.

It is apparent that by devices well known in the art (e.'g. Patent 2,120,360), the platen can be disconnected from the driving pulley 12 so that a form on the platen can be advanced to the first printing line when the corresponding bead on the bead chain is under the outer end of the switch arm 87. Then, assuming the magnet 48 is energized, the platen 12 will be rotated counterclockwise, as will be the intermediate shaft 64 and accordingly, the bead sprocket 66 will be rotated counterclockwise. Since in a preferred embodiment, there is a direct ratio between the movement of the bead chain past the switch arm 87 and the movement of the form on the platen into printing position, it is apparent that the form will be advanced until the next large head in the chain gets under the outer end 95 of the switch arm 87 whereupon the circuit to the magnet 48 will again be broken to stop the platen so that a preselected line of the form will be in printing position.

With respect to the platen and the form being advanced on the platen, it will be remembered that there is a great deal of friction between the paper feed rolls and the platen of a typewriter so that a considerable effort is needed to rotate the platen to advance a form. Accordingly, as soon as the circuit to the magnet 48 is interrupted by the large bead 91a getting under the switch arm 87, the platen will come to an immediate stop, and it has been found that there is little problem of the platen overshooting its mark.

For appearances sake, the bead chain 93 is normally held in a well 106 which is attached to the typewriter frame, and leaf springs 108, 110 are employed to hold the beads in peripheral contact with the chain sprocket 66 to prevent slipping. If the circuit to the magnet 48 were such that when a large bead 91a were placed under the switch arm 87, the circuit to the magnet 48 would be interrupted, then it is apparent that this circuit could not be re-established until the large bead 91a has been moved from under the switch arm 87. This is taken care of by the normal line feed operation of the typewriter. After printing on the pre-selected line is complete the carriage is returned effecting a normal line feed operation. This moves the large head from under arm 87 and permits the circuit to the magnet 48 to be reestablished. As the form is spaced after each line of typing a small bead is fed under the switch arm. The magnet 48, however, does not operate as its operating circuit, is not completed, until a form feed operation is requested. This may be done at any time while small beads are positioned under the arm 87. In Fig. 5, a manual switch 112 is shown, the operation of which will effect a form feed operation.

Depression of the manual switch 112 to close its contacts will send a pulse from a positive line 114 through the normally closed contact B2 to pick up the relay A whereupon the pulse will go to the ground line 116. Current will now pass from the plus line 114 through i the normally closed contact B3 and through the normally open (now closed) contacts A2 and through the clutch magnet 'coil 48 to ground, thereby energizing the clutch 40.

In the above description, it is assumed that a small head is positioned under the arm 87 to close the contact arms 98, and since the normally open contacts A3 will now be closed under the influence of the relay A, Y

which has been picked up, current will flow fromthe plus side 114 through the bead contacts $8, 101) via the rectifier 118 through the normally open (now closed) contacts of A2 to hold up the clutch magnet. Simultaneously, the pulse through the contacts 98, will pass along the conductor 121i and via the conductor 122 through a rectifier 124 and through the normally open, now closed, contacts A3 to pick up the relay B which action will shift the position of its contacts B2 and B3. The opening of contacts 133 will disconnect the clutch magnet from the plus terminal 114 via the normally closed contacts B3 but the clutch will remain energized through the bead contacts 98, 1% which are closed so long as small beads pass under the switch arm 87. As soon as the next large bead 91a passes under the switch arm 87, the contacts 98, 100 will be interrupted whereupon there will be no power to the clutch magnet 48 which will then drop out.

The opening of the contacts 93, 10%) will also interrupt the circuit via the conductors 120, 122, rectifier 124, contacts A3, conductor 126, to relay B, and the circuit through conductor 128, contacts B2 normally open (now closed), conductor 130 to relay A, thereby dropping out relays A and B, whereupon the circuit will be restored to that shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, so that the next operation of the manual switch 112, the circuit will be established, as heretofore described.

In operation, it has been found that this improved programming device is operable with forms of varying lengths since the program chain, which controls the operation of the contacts 98, 1% is inter-changeable. The length of chain is selected to correspond to the length of form that is fed around the platen 12.

It should also be noted that while the circuitry was described with respect to a manual contact 112, that it is obvious that the circuitry will also be operable if any remotely controlled means were employed to close the contacts of switch 112.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention, as applied to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claim.

What is claimed is:

In a business machine having a platen supported by a carriage; an automatic programming device for positionmg in succession selected lines of a work sheet carried by said platen to a printing line; comprising a first shaft with its axis parallel to that of the platen, platen driving means interconnecting said first shaft and said platen to advance the latter by the rotation of said first shaft, driving means having a second shaft interconnected via a normally disengaged clutch to said first shaft for driving the latter when said clutch has been engaged; sequentially, operable circuit means comprising a switch, a contact, a first control means, a second control means, a clutch magnet, actuating circuits for said control means and an actuating circuit and a holding circuit for said clutch magnet, said switch closing said actuating circuit for said first control-means, said first control means closing said actuating circuit for said clutch magnet to engage said clutch to drive said first shaft, said first control means also closing said actuating circuit for said second control means, said second control means holding said first control means energized, switching means operable in response to preselected lines of the form upon said platen reaching said printing line for interrupting said sequentially operable circuit means to disengage said clutch; said switching means comprising a switch arm for opening said contact and a member-havingindividual elements of both a normal and greater size, and means on said first shaft for moving said member past said switch rm element by element as the platen isadvanced with respect to a reference point for controlling the operation References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,260,953 Barker Mar. 26, 19.18 1,951,517 Maul Mar. 20, 1934 2,591,335 Blovin Apr. 1, 1952 

